Hypothyroidism – An Experiment for the Cure

Recently, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).  This is the second time in my life that I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  The first time was back in 2005 when I was nineteen.

Here’s the story:

I was nineteen years old and my doctor at the VA diagnosed me with hypothyroidism.  I was prescribed Levothyroxine NA (Synthroid) 0.025 mg tablets.  After taking the pills for a few weeks I started to get really moody.  I stopped hanging out with friends and got a case of ‘the blues’.   (Now, granted, this could be correlated to a typical case of nineteen year old teen-age angst.)  But eventually, I decided that I wanted to stop taking the pills.

I consulted Dr. Google and I read that several people were claiming that Organic Virgin Coconut Oil was good for hypothyroidism.  After several weeks/months, I stopped taking my Synthroid and started taking a tablespoon of coconut oil every day and began taking my daily multi-vitamin and omega 3 pills.  Several months later, when I had my blood tested again, I no longer had hypothyroidism.  I was last tested in 2011 and I still had normal thyroid levels.  I haven’t been to the doctor since then, but I went this past Tuesday, and I was once again diagnosed with hypothyroidism.   (For these last few years I haven’t been taking my daily tablespoon of coconut oil and I’ve lapsed on my omegas and multi-vitamins.)

My doctor has again prescribed me Levothyroxine NA (Synthroid) 0.023 mg tablets.  I’ve decided, though, that since I’ve already beaten hypothyroidism once the natural way that I’m going to try again (and this time keep up with my regimen).

I’ve been researching diets all across the web, talking to people, and looking at all the possible options.  My next lab tests are in three months so I told my doctor that in three months if my thyroid function isn’t better naturally than I’ll take the medication.

I will detail my findings here.

I’m not trying to sell you a book or some magic formula (as I’ve seen on other sites across the web) I’m trying to beat this for myself and I’m hoping that I’ll be successful and that I’ll be able to pass on the success to others.

I’ve already beat it once.  Here’s hoping that I can again.  And you can too!

Symptoms:

Thinning hair (but I am getting a little older)

Tiredness (but I am in grad school full time, working, and the wife is pregnant)

Weight gain (pretty consistent 155 lbs (occasionally fluctuates a few pounds though))

Memory (possible memory problems but I’ve never had a great memory)

Michael Anthony is an Iraq War Veteran and is the Author of: Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Destruction, and Dishonor in Iraq.